The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-18
ASHAKSPEARE FOUNTAIN
G. w. CHILDS' GIFT DEDICATED AT
STRATFORD-ON-A

A Large NUMBER OF DlSulnBulSl6Q PSr-
sons Personal---very. Irving Makes
the Dedication Speech-A Poem by
Oliver Wendell Holmes and Letter
from James Russell Lowell Read.
LONDON, Oct. 1.-THE Shakespeare me-
mortal fountain, presented by &. W. Childs,
of Philadelphia, to the town of Stratford-
on-Avon, was dedicated with imposing cere-
monies to-day. Early trains brought large
numbers of distinguished persons to attend
the dedication The weather was fine.
There was an immense crowd in attendance,
and much enthusiasm was manifested.
DR.. Macauley represented Mr.. Childs at the
proceedings. Just before noon the invited
guests formed in line and marched
to the town hall and thence to the site of
the fountain. Henry Irving made the dedi-
cation speech. He said he admired Mr..
Childs public spirit and energy, which were
worthy of Philadelphia His generous
deeds were widely known, and he was
greatly respected. Mr. Irving concluded
his address by presenting the memorial in
the name of the donor to the town.
The Mayor read letter from James Rus
sell Lowell, eulogizing Mr. Childs for his
gift, which deed recalled the fact of the
kindred blood of the two great nations who
are joint heirs to the work OF Shakespeare.
MR.. LowELL's LETTER.
Following is the letter from James Russell
Lowell, which was read by the Mayor:
should more deeply regret my inability to
be present at the interesting ceremonial of Oct.
II, were it not that my countrymen viii be more
fifty represented there by their accomplished
Minister, Mr.. Phelps. The occasion is certainly
most interesting one The monument which You
accept in behalf of your townsmen com
menlorates at once the most marvellous of Eng
liShmen and the jubilee year of the august lady,
whose name is honored wherever the language
is spoken, of which he was the greatest master.
No symbol could more aptly serve this double
purpose than fountain for surely no poet ever
poured forth so broad river OF speech as be.
whether he was the author of "NoVm Or
ganum" also, or not; nor could the purity of
her character and example be better typitied
than by the current that shall flow forever from
this fountain. 1t was Washington Irving who
first embodied in his delightful English the
emotion which Stratford-on-A Avon awakens in
the heart of the pilgrim, and especially of the
American pilgrim who visits it. am glad TO
think that this memorial should be
the gift of an American and thus serve
to recall the kindred blood of the two
great nations, joint heirs of the same noble
language and of the genius that has given it
cosmopolitan significance. l am glad of it be
cause il is one of the multitudinous signs that
those two nations are beginning to think more
and more of the things in which they syrnpa-
differ. Cheers Common language is not, in
deed, the surest bond of amity, for this
enables each country to understand whatever
unpleasant thing the other may chance to say
about it. AS am one of those that Eelieve
honest friendship between England and America
is a most desirable thing trust that we on both
sides will think it equally desirable in our inter
course, one with the other, to make our mother
tongue search her Golfer round for the polished,
rather than sharp cOrnered epithets she
has stored there. Let us by all means
l. H., 70, afh
is no one else who can speak it to either of us
with such fraternal feeling for the weak points
of the other, but let us do it in such way as to
show that it is the truth we love and not the
discomfort we can infiict by means of 1t.
[CrieS of Hear! Hear!'l Let us say agreeable
things to each other and of each other when
ever we conscientiously can. My friend, Mr..
ChildS, has said one of these agreeable things
in a very solid and durable way. Common
literature and common respect for certain
qualities of character and ways of thinking sup
ply a neutral ground where we may meet in
surance that we will find something aIniable in
each other and from being less than kin be
come more than kin. Cheers. In old maps
the line which outlined the British possessions
in America included the greater part of what is
the territory of the United States. The posses
sions of America in England are laid down
on no map, yet he holds them in memory and
imagination by title such as no conquest ever
throw. The dust that is sacred to you is sacred
TO him. The annals which shakespeare makes
walk before US in flesh and blood are his no less
than yours. These are the ties which we recog-
nze, and are glad to recognize on oc-
casions like this They VIII be
yearly drawn closer as science goes
on with her work of abolishng time and space,
and thus render more easy that peaceful com
merce twixt different shores which is so potent
to clear away whatever is exclusive in nation
ality or savors Of barbarism in patriotism.
| remain, dear Mr.. Mayor, faithfully yours
j. r. LOWELL.
Enthusiastic cheers were given when the
Mayor finished reading Mr. Lowell's letter.
The Poet Whittier had also written let
ter to Mr. Childs, in which he said the gift
during the present year was happy
thought as connected with the Queens
jubilee and would 90 toward atoning for
foolish utterances about England coming
from some American citizens This portion
of the letter was received with cries, 'Hear,
Hear
The poem, written for the occasion by
Oliver Wendell Holmes, was read by Mr.
Henry Irving with splendid effect amid
plaudits, as follows:
The following poem by Oliver Wendell
Holmes was read:
Welcome, thrice welcome is thy silvery geam,
Thou long imprisoned stream
Welcome the tinkle of thy crystal beads
AS pashing raindrops TO the howery meads,
As summers breath to AvOns wispering reeds
From rockwalled channels drowned in rayless
Leap forth to life and light;
Wake from the darkness of thy troubled dream,
Aud greet with answering smile the mornings
beam,
No purer lymph the white-limbed Naiad knows
Than from thy chace flows;
Not the bright spring of Afric's sunny shores,
Starry with spangles washed from golden ores
Nor CLASSY stream Blandusia y fountain pours,
Nor wave translucent where Sabrina fair
Brads her loose-fowing hair,
Nor thp e,tsiff inf eta ap1ag ae weGA
Where chill Arveron steals from Alpine SHOWS
Here shall the traveller stay his weary feet
To seek thy calm retreat:
Here at high noon the brown-armed reaper
Here when the shadows engthening from the
west.
Call the mute song bird 20 his leafy nest,
Matron and maid shall chat the cares away
That brooded DER the day,
While hocking round them troops of children
meet,
And all the arches ring with laughter sweet.
Here shall the stecd his patient life who spends
In toll that never ends,
Hot from his thirsty tramp DER hill aud plain
Plunge his red nostrils while the torturing
rein
Drops in loose loops beside his floating name;
Nor the poor brute that shares his master
lot
Find his small needs forgot
Truest of humble, long enduring friends,
Whose presence cheers, whose guardian care de
fendsl
Here lark, and thrush and nightingale shall sip,
And sximmng swallows din.